Sermon ' ANGER Ephesians 4:26 '

TODAY'S VERSE:February 3,2019.

"Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. "

The Bible didn't tell us that we shouldn't feel angry, but it points out that it is important to handle our anger properly.
'If vented thoughtlessly, anger can hurt others and destroy relationships. '

If bottled up inside, it can cause us to become bitter and destroy us from within.

Paul tells us to deal with our anger immediately in a way that builds relationships rather than destroys them.

If we nurse our anger, we will give the devil an opportunity to divide us.

' Anger is not always sin. '

There is a type of anger of which the Bible approves, often called “ righteous indignation .
Examples are:

"God is angry with the wicked every day. (Psalm 7:11)

Jesus looked around at the people angrily because of their hard hearts ( Mark 3:5 ).

It is acceptable for believers to be angry without sin (Ephesians 4:26 ).

Anger if used properly, God's way, is an energy to solve problems.

Other examples of biblical anger include David being upset over hearing Nathan the prophet sharing an injustice (2 Samuel :12 ) and Jesus ’ anger over how some of the Jews had defiled worship at God’s temple in Jerusalem (John 2:13-18 ). Notice that neither of these examples of anger involved self-defense, but a defense of others or of a principle.

It is important to also recognize that anger at an injustice inflicted against oneself is also appropriate.

Anger alerts us to those times when others are attempting to or have violated our boundaries. God cares for each individual. Sadly, we do not always stand up for one another, meaning that sometimes we must stand up for ourselves. This is especially important when considering the anger that victims often feel. Victims of abuse, violent crime, or the like have been violated in some way. Often while experiencing the trauma, they do not experience anger. Later, in working through the trauma, anger will emerge. For a victim to reach a place of true health and forgiveness, he or she must first accept the trauma for what it was. In order to fully accept that an act was unjust, one must sometimes experience anger for the complexities of trauma recovery. This anger is often not short lived, particularly for victims of abuse. Victims should process through their anger and come to a place of acceptance, and most importantly forgiveness.

This is often a long journey. As God heals the victim's emotions, anger will follow. Allowing the process to occur does not mean the person is living in sin.

When does anger becomes sin? ( THIS WILL BE PROPERLY DEALT WITH, GOD WILLING NEXT WEEK ON TODAY'S VERSE )

TODAY'S VERSE NEXT WEEK WILL BE "HUMAN ANGER DOES NOT PRODUCE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS GOD DESIRES" JAMES 1:20

GRACE AND PEACE BE MULTIPLIED UNTO YOU THIS WEEK THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD!

M. SAMUEL ZION